Aerator



Feb. 1o, 1931. w. H. CURRY ET AL 1,192,285

' ERATQR Filed Jan. 3, 1928 m. VZW@ UNIT STATES" f WALTER H. CURRY AND HENRY F. DIETZ, or" s'ALT LAKE` CITY, AUTAH, AssIGNoRs TOL HEWrTT-GUTT'A PERCHA RUBBERKCOBPORATION, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK;

AERATQR i Application led January 3, A1928. Serial No. 244,187.l i

Our invention relates to aerators used in oil flotation devices to separate mineral particles from the gangue or rock Withwhich minerals are usually associated, and has for its object to provide a new and improved aerator which, when used in connection With the present practice of separatingv ore, will reduce the maintenance costs and Will iin-- prove the present practice of separating' ores.

A further object is to provide an improved aerator Which Will not require the frequent repairs and new installations which are'necessai-y with the present mats used 1n flotation of minerals, and` Which Will minimize the precipitation of lime on the mat.

A still further object is to provide an air mat which will be easily installed, Will not require the removal for cleaning because it Will not have a rough surface on which particles may catch, and which will divide the air into more and finer air bubbles, making a better froth on the top of the Water than has heretofore been accomplished.

In the process of flotation air is Yintroduced through the cell in many dilferent means,'all of which are to make a froth ormass of air bubbles on the top of the Water in the ore pulp and Which bubbles start at the bottom of thecell and pass up through the Water and acids used and through the finely Vground ore v pulp to carry the mineral particles to the A surface, forming a .mineral-Lcarrying froth on the surface of the cell, Where itis skimmed off or carried over into launders for further treatment. In these processes Where acids, oils, lime and other chemicals are used, the action thereof rots and disintegrates the usual types ofmats used to form the air bulbbles, and the lime precipitates on the mat,

s closing the opening therein, but With*l our mat, which We. make of rubber, thereis no rotting or disintegration from these sources, and the surface of the mat is smooth so that the lime will not precipitate as readily thereomvandthe mat may beusedamuch' longer periodof time. f I Y' i Y These objects AWe accomplish with the device illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, inivhicli similar numerals andV letters of reference indicate likev parts throughout 'the several'vievvs and as described in the specification forming apart of this application and vpointed out in lthe'appended claims.

l'n` the drawings We have shown'the best and most preferredy 'mannerA ofl building my invention.VY three mats used in a single cell With the lone mat shown inflated as When theair is being passed therethrough. i on line 2 2 ofFigure 1'. Figurey 3 is a small portion of one of the mats yenlarged to show the shape of the perforations therethrough,

igaazstj Figure l is aplan view ofthel Figure 2 is a section p With the rubberv shown stretched topopen the perforations. v Figure 4 isa viewl showing, the'opening of the perforations'should the ro-Wsbe placed diagonally across the mat.V Figure is a diagrammatic View of the mat in use on the rotary type machine.

In the drawings We have shownthe mats as A and the cells or pans overvwhich they are secured as B.

pans B bythe metal strips l 'and the bolts 3. Other-means may be used to secure the mats lto the pans, or rotors used. The-said lwith Y air inlet openings under pressure is forced The said mats A are made of lliat sheets oflrubber and are secured to the "nelnicircular or crescent- Y r so'that the top surface of theV rubber will be snioothivith only the small cut of thef'perforation therethrough. Thesaid rows of perfora- Ytions are made longitudinally With the mat or can be made diagonally thereon, but the holes must bepmade in the direction of the bulge. of the rubberlvvhen inflated... 'This is for the purpose that, when the mat is eX- panded by the pressure ofthe air, it will Vtors the niat Will be placed around the rotor stretch upwardly Vand open the cuts, allowing the air to pass therethrough. LThe said perforations are made Witha very sharp tool' and in such nuinberthat the air, Eininfla'ti'ng the inat, Wil-l not stretch the rubber mat to such a. great degree that it will not return to its closing position all of the' time so that when it does return there Will be no opening through the mat for the fine sand or gangue y to get through the opening into the pans'below the mat. y .y

The perforations andthe shape thereof are the primey factors yof this invention and are so constructed, as will be seen from the drawings, that when the inat stretches the inner lip Y portion 6 of the crescentl cut 5 will be forced upwardly and the outer periphery 7 of the cut Will be drawn away viroin the portion 6, making a small crescent-shaped Vopening therein, and when the rubber is allowed to resume its primary position the lip portion 6 resumes its initial position, acting'as a Valve,

` and the periphery 7 is drawnback to Contact with the portion v6, formingl a slit through Vthe rubber which will completely close the hole therethrough. Y,

It will be seen that varying air pressures and voluinewill affect the bulge ofthe rubber inat and that the valveaction of the lipportion 6 Y Will open according tothe pressure and volume used. ln types of machines Where the pressure varies much the rubber matwill be reinforced With a thin sheet of fabric 8, which fabric will limit the amount of ybulge and tend to hold the outflow of air through the mat at a constant flow.

In using the mat on the rotary type of aeraaiid will be made in atubular shape and Will be held thereon by circular strips or hoops of metal or rubber bands slid orV r the ends of the rotor.` Figure 5 of the drawings shows the use with the rotor, and it Will be obvious that'the inat can be usedWith alltypes of machines, using the distribution of air therefrom. l

Having thusdescribed our inventi'oiiwe desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim: l. In a inat for use in distribution of air through liquids, the combination of a pan and a sheet.

of thin rubber secured over the top rations through said rubber adapted to open when air is introduced into saidlpansbelow said rubber, and to allow said air to pass through said perforations.atrai'ying pressu `es and volume.

porous medium for the f. having rows of semi-circular perfo- 2. In a inat for use in the distribution of In testimony whereof We vhave affixed our signatures.

W'ALTER H; CURRY. HENRY F. DIETZ. 

